Scottsdale Collector Car Week 2018 is one of those events the entire automotive auction world attends in some way – if not in person, then by proxy. That's because it is traditionally the lens through which the remainder of each automobile auction year is viewed, with major auctions conducted by RM-Sotheby's, Barrett-Jackson, Gooding &Co., Bonhams, Russo and Steele, Silver Auctions and Worldwide Auctioneers all within a short distance of each other over five even shorter days. Here's our take on the market, plus a cross section of the most interesting cars offered last week in Scottsdale.
Hagerty's industry-standard statistics show that US$247.8 million was spent this year, and that's down 5 percent from last year's $259.8 million, and that only 2,668 cars were sold this year compared to 2,899 last year. But though the numbers shift slightly every year, compare the last five years in Scottsdale and very little changed with regard to the amount of money available or the number of cars in the marketplace.
If either of the Jaguar D-Types had sold the aggregate numbers would have been the second best on record, and if Hitler's car had set a world record as a similar car did 40 years ago, the market would have been at a record high again.
The market is however, DOWN. One particular article that used Hagerty's statistics for a bit of thought-provoking marketplace analysis caught our eye in the lead up to the Scottsdale auction cluster: Wolf Richter's Wolfstreet. The following chart drawn from Hagerty's immensely useful valuation tool data was used to illustrate a few interesting points in that article. That's the chart as it was presented in Wolf Street below.
On January 16, 2018, Wolf wrote: According to the Hagerty Market Index, prices of vintage automobiles that sold at private sales and at auctions fell 3 percent from a month ago, are down 7 percent for the year, and are down 17 percent from the all-time high in August 2015. This 17 percent drop from the peak is worse than the 16 percent drop from peak-to-bottom during the Financial Crisis.The index in the January report, at 154.33, has now two declining years in a row under its belt.
The full article is worth a read because data does not lie. As the Lies-damn-lies-and-statistics-school is trying to point out, data can be manipulated, but this data hasn't been manipulated, and the market is down!
As more granular data is collected, our understanding of this marketplace will grow considerably, and at the same time as more data is being collected and disseminated, the audience of automotive enthusiasts dabbling in the market is growing and becoming much better educated.
The above image comes from Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale auction and the original is 10,000 pixels wide and it is quite something to behold on a big screen. That's a Superbowl audience and it is a credit to Barrett-Jackson that it continues to grow and prosper. Barrett-Jackson has been treating auctions as entertainment for decades and it is really paying off, with the company now broadcasting on primetime television as well as the internet. The Scottsdale auctions alone generated 37 hours of live television coverage on Discovery and Velocity channels in the United States.
In the motorcycle arena, Mecum's televised auctions have resulted in so many consignors wanting to see their bike auctioned on television that the traditional one day Las Vegas January auction is now at five days in length. Much is written about the power of the internet, but television is still an incredibly powerful mass medium and with auctions providing the type of time-sensitive data that is associated with sporting contests, automotive auctions might yet become a massive drawcard, at the same time as educating and enrolling a mass audience.
That said, those auction companies which continue to pay scant regard to their internet feed are hurting their brand values, and it is just as bad, maybe worse, to have your website crash during the middle of a globally-important auction than not to have one at all. Both of those myopic business conditions can and will damage your company.
The top selling car at Scottsdale this year was Battista Pininfarina's personal 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale, fetching $8,085,000 with buyers premium added. Indeed, it seemed to be a year when the value of provenance was on display, as Preston Tucker's Tucker 48 and several of Carroll Shelby's personal cars also demonstrated how much a name and a story can add to marketplace worth.
We've listed all the million dollar cars, and we've thrown in many cars based on their "story" as there's value to be had at every price point in the auction spectrum. We hope you have as much fun exploring our picks of the most interesting of the 3,176 cars at Scottsdale this year.
$12,100 | 2006 Pontiac Solstice from Transformers
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
This is the actual car used in the 2007 blockbuster science fiction movie Transformers based on the Hasbro toy line. Movie cars traditionally do much better than simply retain their value on the auction block and it may well be that this car will significantly appreciate in value because the target audience of the 2007 film is not yet old enough to have a license or to have accumulated any wealth. In the meantime, while you're waiting for a payday, it's a well sorted custom Solstice with a great story.
$19,800 | 1952 MG TD
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Proof that you don't need $10 million to buy as classic car you can love. This MG TD was sold in exquisite condition, with an extensive history, numerous magazine articles written about the car, and the knowledge that after half a century in the care of the seller, it is as well sorted as humanly possible. All that and enough change from 20 grand for a celebratory dinner on the way home. Extraordinary value!
$22,000 | 1963 Glas Goggomobil TS 250 Coupé
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
A cult car that has as many aficionados today as it had in its heyday of the 1950s when its 250cc two-stroke engine offered economical 50 miles-per-gallon motoring in war-torn post-war Europe with a top speed of 59 mph. Introduced at the 1954 IFMA international bicycle and motorcycle show (technically, it shared more with motorcycles than cars), its acceleration was somewhat leisurely, in that it required 27.9 seconds to accelerate to 50 mph (80 km/h). In 14 years of production, 280,000 Goggomobils were produced, and they were so loved that they have a very high survival rate and are fostered by Goggomobil clubs the world over.
$26,400 | 1969 Cadillac "Carpool De Ville"
Barrett-Jackson, January, 2018 | Auction Link
The "Carpool De Ville" is a hot tub on wheels that holds a Guinness World Record for "World's Fastest Mobile Hot Tub" and has appeared on CNN, Good Morning America, Jay Leno's Garage, The Bachelorette, and as the centerpiece of a marketing campaign for Stella McCartney's "Pop" fragrance. It can't be driven on public roads, but it is a genuine hot tub, so could probably earn its keep as a hire vehicle, though its real strength is as a publicity generation machine, and no doubt there's a lot more than $26,400 worth of publicity still to be had from this rather unique vehicle.
$38,500 | 1950 Studebaker "Ice Princess"
Russo & Steele, Scottsdale, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
As weird as this car might seem, it is just a paint job away from being an ideal set of wheels for a superhero or perhaps even a supervillain. It has four steering wheels and is way more radical than the concept car that George Barris turned into the original TV Batmobile.
$55,000 | 1951 Volkswagen Beetle
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
If you're thinking that $55,000 is a lot of money for a Volkswagen Beetle (Bug), then be aware that this was only the second most expensive Beetle sold at Scottsdale, that another 1979 model sold for $38,500, and that a feature article from 12 months ago details many more Beetles which have sold for much more again. It may surprise you to know that there are Beetles valued in excess of a quarter million dollars. The most expensive Beetle at Scottsdale is directly below ...
$61,600 | 1957 Volkswagen Beetle
Barrett-Jackson, January 15, 2018 | Auction Link
The extent to which this Beetle has been restored is normally only reserved for cars worth a million dollars or more. The no-expense-spared pan-off nut-and-bolt rotisserie restoration was performed over several years in order to accumulate all of the actual new-old-stock parts collected from around the world. Check out the images at the auction link. A stunner with far more time and money and love invested than it sold for.
$63,250 | 1950s Esso Aviation single-sided porcelain neon sign
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
From an era when petroleum was cheap, and real cars burned a pint a mile, this Esso sign was the second most expensive automobilia sign sold during Scottsdale auction week.
$74,800 | 1969 Volvo P1800S
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
One of the things that not many car collectors realize is that, while a car might be worth seven figures at auction, there are many cars with a five figure price tag that are much better in every way. This car is one of the latter variety by virtue of its relative lack of scarcity.
Volvo's P1800 is a great driver's car, incredibly reliable, and with 115 hp and a top speed of 110 mph, it is no slouch. With styling by Pietro Frua, the P1800S is also gorgeous and its greatest crime on the auction block is that it was produced in relatively large numbers with 47,492 units sold in 12 years.
The $74,800 paid for this car is the second highest price ever paid for a Volvo 1800S (the record is held by Gooding & Co at $77,000) and if you check the details of this car you'll understand why it sold close to the record. It is a much-loved single-owner-from-new car and every memento of the car from new was sold with it, including every piece of paperwork it has ever generated and the original spark plugs. Go figure!
$92,400 | 1973 Porsche 911 E Targa (and a riddle)
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
This story is a tale of two Targas. One is the car above which is described by RM-Sothebys as a "very original example" and "well preserved throughout its life." It sold with factory air conditioning (very rare), and the original owner's manual and maintenance book, which is also quite rare. It crossed the auction block with 58,769 miles on the odometer and fetched $92,400, towards the upper end of its official estimate of $75,000 to $100,000.
Now go and take a look at this quite similar 1973 Porsche 911 2.4 T Targa which sold at Gooding & Co for $313,500 and try to explain why. The Gooding car is a lovely shade of "Kelly Green," the T model is marginally more sporty than the E, and it has traveled just 3,400 miles from new, but that surely can't explain a $220,000 price difference. Feel free to share ideas in the comments section, but is low mileage and originality really worth that much?
$100,000 | 2018 Bennington 23SSBXP Pontoon Boat
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
Another charity lot from Barrett-Jackson, this 2018 23-foot SX Premium Swingback by Bennington sold for $100,000 with all proceeds going to the Mayshad Foundation, an organization developing and implementing grassroot projects to empower women in Africa.
Unsold | 1966 Volkswagen 21-Window 'Samba' Bus
Worldwide, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
Just a few short years ago, a bid of $110,000 on a Volkswagen Samba van would have earned the bidder a psychiatric referral, but as this feature article detailed, the humble people's van is surfing a nostalgic tidal wave and the world record price for a Samba is now $302,000. Such well-publicized auction results have raised expectations and despite a high bid of $110,000, this Samba was passed in as it did not meet the seller's reserve.
$115,500 | 1967 Fiat-Abarth 1000 OTR
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Carlo Abarth was sporting director of the Cisitalia factory racing team, and when Cisitalia failed financially, he took over the assets from the bankruptcy sale and produced a brand name with even greater credibility, forging a name for extreme performance that is only really known to enthusiasts with a penchant for small capacity engines and high efficiency.
When Abarth began building limited-production competition cars based on existing models, it produced some outrageous engines and this is a perfect example. Starting with Fiat's pedestrian 840 Coupe, it produced this Fiat-Abarth 1000 OTR (for Omologato Turismo Radiale), an homologation special for FIA Group 3 competition.
The 1000 OTR produces 100 horsepower from its 982cc OHV 4-cylinder "Radiale" engine, with performance "so much better than its contemporary production car racing competitors that some racing organizations, notably the SCCA, banned it from competition." Only around 35 were produced, and this car is believed to be one of just three surviving examples in the United States. This car is claimed to be "the single best example of the 1000 OTR on the planet."
$123,200 | 1937 Lincoln Model K Panel Brougham by Willoughby
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Intended to be used with a chauffeur, Willoughby's formal brougham body featured an open driver's compartment and added $7,000 to the cost of a Lincoln during the 1930s. It was launched in the year after the famous Wall Street Crash, available for four years, and then reappeared again in the late 1930s. The rear compartment boasted armchair-like folding "occasional seats," as well as a telephone for passing directions to the chauffeur. Only two examples of this 1937 model remain in existence today.
$149,500 | 1939 Husky Gasoline porcelain service station sign
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
The most expensive sign of the Scottsdale auction week. Barrett-Jackson as usual offered the majority of the automotive memorabilia and if you are looking to decorate a man cave, the automobilia docket at Scottsdale will give you an idea as to what's available in forthcoming auctions.
$156,800 | 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
The collector car game is played on two planes – authenticity and originality – and this car is exceptional in both. It is the finest original, unrestored example of the Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton extant, with just 9,560 actual miles since it was new 81 years ago. It still wears the original paint, interior, and body tags.
$159,500 | 1963 Volkswagen 23-window Deluxe Samba Van
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
As we've written previously, there are quite a few examples of 21- and 23-window Samba vans that have sold for more than this amount. There's an even more expensive Samba later on this list.
$162,400 | 1959 Mercedes-Benz O 319
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
This Mercedes-Benz O 319 bus has been fully restored, while being both extensively and subtly modified into a camper. Its prior owner, an eccentric computer engineer, used his extensive skills to painstakingly restore and upgrade this unique vehicle over a 15-year period. The imagery in RM-Sotheby's image gallery for this lot is worth exploring.
$200,000 | 1988 Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
Another Barrett-Jackson charity car, this 1988 Corvette Z01 Coupe was one of the limited (2,050 built) 35th Anniversary Special Editions, available at an additional $4,795 over the standard coupe's $29,480 price tag at the time, and packed with extras.
This car was gifted to Craig Jackson (principal of Barrett-Jackson) and his mother Nellie Jackson on the auction block at the 2006 Scottsdale Auction by longtime Barrett-Jackson customer and Corvette enthusiast Dave Ressler, who passed away recently, and the sale of this vehicle will honor his memory. 100 percent of the hammer price of this special Corvette went to the American Heart Association, marking the start of Barrett-Jackson's year-long "Driven Hearts" charitable initiative for the AHA.
$212,800 | 1929 Stutz Model M Four-Passenger Tonneau Cowl Speedster by LeBaron
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Designed to appeal to the buyers who had purchased the popular sporting Stutz Bearcats between 1910 and 1920, coachbuilder LeBaron created two- and four-passenger speedster bodies, both with racing-style "cut-down" front doors. This car was the recipient of an extensive restoration that was completed in 2007, but the car was only shown briefly before ill-health prevented the owner from driving and showing it further. It has not been shown since, and is hence open to a world of new awards and opportunities for a proud new caretaker.
$220,000 | 1960 Volkswagen 23-Window Deluxe Microbus
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Only two Samba vans have ever sold for more money than this, being a 1965 Volkswagen 21-window Deluxe Samba which sold for $302,500 in Scottsdale in 2017, and a 1955 VW 23-window Deluxe Samba which sold for $236,639 (€190,000) in November, 2014. Full story
$224,000 | 1938 Aston Martin 15/98 Short-Chassis Open Sports
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Still capable of 98 mph, this Aston Martin 15/98 was sold with a collection of restoration and historical documentation, plus the original engine which suffered a cracked block, and was also repaired and restored. As the auction description states, "Sportier than the long-chassis tourers, but not an outright sports car, the 15/98 is, quite simply, the epitome of a 1930s roadster."
$236,500 | 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Regent Convertible
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
This is the Rolls-Royce which replaced the Silver Ghost in 1925. The Silver Ghost had been called "the best car in the world" by the authoritative magazine Autocar, and was already the basis for Rolls-Royce advertising globally, so the new Phantom was built to impress.
This fully-restored Phantom 1 Regent convertible, with coachwork by Brewster & Company, has a fully documented history and is a multiple award winner. It is one of of just 21 Regents Phantom 1 convertible coupesbuilt.
$249,700 | 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
The De Tomaso Mangusta (Mongoose) was one of the first supercars, and helped establish Alejandro De Tomaso as a credible sports car manufacturer with its 225 hp 302 V8 Ford engine, Giugiaro design and Ghia coachwork.
$253,000 | Carroll Shelby's 1966 Shelby GT350H Fastback
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
When it comes to provenance, you can't do any better than the headline act. Carroll Shelby's 1966 Shelby GT350H became the rental car of choice for petrolheads and helped endear the name even further into the American DNA. This car was Carroll Shelby's personal car, the car he designed and built and drove on a daily basis. Understandably, it set a new record at auction for the model, trumping the previous best of $220,000 paid at a Barrett-Jackson auction last year.
$253,000 | 1939 BMW 327 Cabriolet
Worldwide, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
Another German Art Deco design that looks great in photos but even better in the wild, this regal burgundy BMW 327 is one of only 482 produced and had been in single ownership for 37 years prior to its sale.
$260,000 | 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
The top-of-the-range 280SE Coupe, Cabriolet and 300SEL saloon models were chosen by Mercedes-Benz to launch its 3.5-liter V8 engine in 1969. The SEL saloon used a new body-shell, while the Coupe and Cabriolet kept the decade-old coachwork for an extra year, so the 280SE 3.5 was the last with the much-admired body style and it came fitted with the sensational new V8 powerplant. These last-of-the-line top quality classics are highly sought after by discerning collectors, which explains the price.
$264,000 1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
It would be reasonable to say that the Lamborghini Countach first shown at the 1971 Geneva Salon was a defining moment in sports car design. The Countach became the poster car of a generation with even non-enthusiasts capable of recognizing the outrageous angular lines. This car is the final iteration of the Countach with a 5,167cc engine, four-valve combustion chamber and 420 hp giving it a top speed of 300 km/h.
$300,000 | 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt Vin #001
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
Ford and the Steve McQueen estate got together to donate VIN #001, the first model off the line of the new limited-edition 2019 Mustang Bullitt to charity, and as we've written about recently, the new car charity auction model is one of those rare co-operative business arrangements that works for all concerned.
The Bullitt is due to be available later this year with a price tag between $45,000 and $55,000, so someone paid roughly six times the going price to become the first with the new car, jumping the long queue that had formed at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show last week where the Bullitt was displayed alongside the original 1968 vehicle.
Steve McQueen's old school Boys Republic got $300,000 it didn't have before to further its good work, Ford kicked off its new model on prime time television, Barrett-Jackson produced more compelling entertainment to spice up its forever growing and innovative auction format, and everyone had a good time. Barrett-Jackson was instrumental in starting the charity car auction trend and deserves some additional accolades for passing the $100 million dollar mark during this auction – that's $100 million in funds it has facilitated going to charity. Bravo!
$308,000 | 1956 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Take a look through the hi-res image gallery on Bonham's auction link page for this car and read the details of the meticulous restoration and you'd wonder if it is possible to better it as an example of the 1600 Speedster. It would seem as close to perfection as it's possible to get. Then realize that the following day a 1957 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster sold for $533,500 at Gooding & Company. Perhaps there are degrees of perfection?
$330,000 | 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900C Coupe
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Just 100 of these Pininfarina designed and built Alfa 1900C Coupes were produced. Spacious inside, gorgeous to look at, 180 km/h speed thanks to the DOHC engine, and refined handling make for a wonderful and rare collectible.
$350,000 | 2015 Pioneer Cedar One Custom Roadster
Barrett-Jackson, January 19, 2018 | Auction Link
No, it's not another fiberglass car heading for a remake of the Flintstones movie, but a genuine log car, created from a giant western red cedar dating back to 1776, specifically chosen because it began growing at the same time as the founding of the United States of America.
The "Pioneer Cedar Rocket" is electrically powered by two giant turbines capable of producing winds in excess of 230 mph, though when it set the Guinness World Record for the fastest log car, it clocked just 46 mph. The "Pioneer Cedar Rocket" was auctioned with all proceeds going to the National Medal Of Honor Museum Foundation, The Royal Canadian Legion and Our Nation's Heroes Foundation.
$362,500 | 1933 Cadillac V-16 Seven-Passenger Town Cabriolet
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
If you've never heard of Joan Crawford, she was once the highest paid female movie star in the world, incredibly talented (one Academy Award for Best Actress and two more nominations) and incredibly bitchy. Her list of famous quotations could fill a book, and most of them left scars on someone.
Crawford crafted an indelible image ("Nobody can imitate me. You can always see impersonations of Katharine Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. But not me. Because I've always drawn on myself only") and she never cut corners ("I never go outside unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door.")
This iconic Cadillac V-16 was Joan Crawford's car and it has a provenance to match since her passing. A great yarn worth a read, and while we're on the subject of her passing, her last words were spoken to her housekeeper who prayed out loud while Joan was on her deathbed: "Damn it. Don't you dare ask God to help me."
$418,000 - 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
Worldwide, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
A "basement find," this matching-numbers GB5 blue Cuda recently underwent a full rotisserie restoration with many NOS parts bringing it back to as new condition. Remarkably, it has just over 21,000 miles on the odometer from new.
$420,000 | 1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 Cabriolet
Worldwide, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
$440,000 | 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
$445,000 | 1921 Alfa Romeo G1
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
This car is the oldest extant Alfa Romeo in the world, having spent most of its life in Australia, and was once owned by Neville Crichton, Australian Alfa Romeo Importer, motor sport enthusiast and the international yachtsman who rewrote the record books a decade ago with his yacht Alfa Romeo. Twice shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
$451,000 | 1982 Lancia Rally 037 Stradale
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
This 1982 Lancia Rally 037 Stradale might not be familiar to non-rally-enthusiasts, but spare a moment to read the specifications and you'll realize it remains a potent road car to this day.
The powerplant is a Lampredi-designed, supercharged 2.0 liter DOHC Abarth 4-cylinder producing 205 bhp at 7,000 rpm, styling is by Pininfarina, and this is a homologation car for the Lancia Rally 037 that won the 1983 World Rally Championship Constructors' title. That was the very last title win by a rear-wheel drive Group B rally car before all-wheel drive platforms came to dominate the series.
If that doesn't float your boat, this car has been restored to near perfection, so it is little surprise that it sold for $451,000 at Bonham's Scottsdale 2018 auction.
$489,500 | Carroll Shelby's 2006 Ford GT
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
$495,000 | 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
One of 343 Ford GT Heritage Editions produced and one of only 2,011 GTs produced in 2006, this car is finished in Heritage Blue with Orange Le Mans stripes and displays Number 6 in honor of one of the trio of GT40 cars that bested Ferrari and swept the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1969.
$495,000 | 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
No Sale | 2014 Lamborghini Aventador LP720-4
50th Anniversary Coupe
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
This 2014 Lamborghini Aventador LP720-4 50th Anniversary Coupe was expected to sell in the $450,000 to $500,000 range, but failed to meet reserve with a high bid of $400,000 and was passed in at RM-Sotheby's Scottsdale 2018 auction.
Several Lamborghini Aventador variants crossed the block in January, with a spectacular custom 1600 hp 2012 Aventador LP700-4 with twin turbo conversion fetching $346,500 at Mecum's Kissimmee auction, a 2016 Aventador LP750-4 passed in on a high bid of $540,000 at Worldwide, and a 2014 Aventador LP700-4 selling for $286,000 at Barrett-Jackson.
No Sale | Saleen S7 Twin Turbo
Worldwide, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
Very few Saleen S7 cars were made, and even fewer of the twin turbo 750 hp models were produced, so to see them at auction is very rare. This is such a car, capable of reaching 60 mph in under three seconds and with a top speed of 248 mph.
Only a few of the twin turbo cars have previously been recorded at auction, being an 850 hp 2005 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo with 'Competition Package' that sold for $535,000 at RM-Sotheby's Scottsdale sale in 2016, and a 1,000 hp 2005 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo that sold as part of the Pinnacle Collection for $682,000 at RM-Sotheby's Monterey auction in 2015. Estimated to sell in the $600,000 to $700,000 range, it attracted a high bid of $500,000 and was passed in.
$548,900 | 2015 MTI Racing Boat with 2700hp
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
It isn't a car but heh, with two 1,350 hp QC4V Mercury Racing engines, this racing boat can exceed 180 mph according to the official auction description, which continues: Inside the luxury air-conditioned cockpit is a genuine Italian leather interior featuring eight Italian leather seats with intercom and VHR radio systems, an Alcantara headliner, suspension seats for the driver and throttleman, a 40,000-watt interior and exterior stereo, five video entertainment monitors, a Garmin 8200 Series navigation system, an FLIR thermal camera, air conditioning and custom LED lighting.
$557,750 | 1957 Playground Carousel by Wilhelm Hennecke
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
They don't make them like this any more. One of five Wilhelm Hennecke carousels imported to the United States during the 1950s, this transportation-themed carousel is claimed to be the finest surviving example. The history of Hennecke Carousels can be found here. Featured in our Top 20 children's toys sold at Scottsdale Auction Week.
$605,000 | 1966 Shelby GT350 Prototype #001
Barrett-Jackson, January, 2018 | Auction Link
This is the very first Shelby GT350. This is the 1966 prototype that began a legend, having been built to homologate the Mustang for SCCA competition.
$616,000 | 1951 Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
A beautiful car, just the third produced, with many pre-production features that evolved as production "settled," this car is particularly significant in that it was given to Juan Manuel Fangio for winning the 1951 World Formula One Championship for Alfa Romeo. Fangio drove the car for an indeterminate period before passing it to an acquaintance.
The car's subsequent history is well documented and involves several restorations and many significant awards at America's most important concours events, most notably a Best of Class at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The car was reunited with Fangio in the early 1990s where he signed the car's firewall. An image of that occasion can be seen in the Gooding & Company auction gallery.
$621,500 | 1959 Aston Martin DB Mk III Drop Head Coupe
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
$665,000 | 1967 Toyota 2000GT
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
The Japanese E-Type enjoyed a brief period of credibility a few years ago, with several of the original 337 units fetching more than a million dollars at auction, then prices receded again, and the 2000GT is unlikely to exceed six figures again for some time.
The record for a Toyota 2000GT is $1,155,000 fetched during the sale of the Don Davis Collection in 2013. That Toyota 2000GT was the most expensive Asian car, the most expensive Japanese car and the most expensive Toyota ever sold at auction. Our money on a replacement for those titles is a Lexus, and Hagerty has done a nice job explaining the 2000GT's fall from grace.
No Sale | 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
With a high bid of $700,000, this 1914 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost must have gone close to having a new owner. It is the last of the 116 B-Series Silver Ghosts produced and was presented in its original Barker-bodied landaulette configuration. This was the car which prestigious British motoring magazine Autocar labelled the "best car in the world" in 1907.
$715,000 | 2004 Porsche Carrera GT Coupe
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
No Sale | 1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
$737,000 | 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
$769,500 | 1935 Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
$770,000 | 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
Only 69 ZL1 Camaros were made in 1969, and they were unsubscribed, meaning that more people could have paid the sticker price of $7,200, if they had felt so inclined. More than half the cost of the ZL1 was the $4,160 premium for the all-aluminum 427 big-block engine, and it's ironic that the engine is now the reason the ZL1 is so coveted.
So coveted in fact, that they rarely come up for auction, and when they do, they fetch a lot of money. The record for a ZL1 is $848,000 which was achieved by Mecum in Indianapolis in 2008, with Worldwide Auctioneers having fetched $715,000 in Houston in 2015 for second place on the all-time price list for the ZL1 prior to this sale. This car now holds second place.
$825,000 | 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
A new world-record price for the Lexus marque, but still well shy of the world-record price of the Lexus parent company (Toyota) record of $1,155,000 set by a 2000GT in 2013.
$925,000 | 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
The fastest and most powerful Corvette ever made, the new ZR1 is the most advanced production Corvette yet. The LT5 6.2-liter V8 engine uses an intercooled supercharger that pushes 52 percent more air than the one on the Z06 to smash out a brutal 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque (563 kW/969 Nm).
It uses GM's first ever dual fuel injection system, and with four more radiators than the previous model, there's now a whopping 13 heat exchangers in the engine bay. Chevrolet has donated one of the new Corvettes to charity, and this is that car, which sold with all funds going to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation
$962,500 | 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 R&P Roadster
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
$967,500 - 1993 Bugatti EB110 GT
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
The Bugatti EB110 GT was the first model of the second coming of the Bugatti name. Ettore Bugatti's engines set world speed records for cars, boats, trains and airplanes and his Bugatti Type 35 became the most successful racing car in history, propelling the Bugatti name to revered public recognition prior to WW2.
The death of Jean Bugatti in 1939, then Ettore Bugatti in 1947 robbed the company of its genius and there have been two attempts to recapture the magic of the Bugatti name. The Bugatti EB110 GT appeared in 1991 with a quad turbo 3.5 liter V12 engine and great hopes. The company didn't survive financially, but the few vehicles it made are highly sought after.
This particular car has a remarkable story as the owner arrived at the Bugatti factory for his 1,000 km service on the very day the creditors moved in and the gates were closed. It fetched $967,500 at RM-Sotheby's Scottsdale 2018 auction, which is above the estimate of $750,000 to $950,000. Could the EB110 GT be about to follow in the wheeltracks of the EB110 SS and pass the million dollar marque, or is this just one of those statistical aberrations that humans generate from time to time?
$995,000 | 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
No Sale - 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe by Boano
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
$1,001,000 | Mercedes-Benz AMG Black Series Quartet
Mecum, Kissimmee, January 13 | Auction Link
Four cars, all with extremely low miles, and all variants of AMG's Black Series.
$1,067,000 | 1953 Ferrari 212 Europa Coupe
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
Just 17 Ferrari 212s were built by Pininfarina and two of them went to auction in Scottsdale last week. The other sold at Barrett-Jackson for $1,100,000.
$1,083,000 | 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
$1,100,000 | 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
$1,100,000 | 1952 Ferrari 212 Europa by Pininfarina
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
This car is one of 17 212 coupes built by Pininfarina (another of this small group sold at Scottsdale for $1,067,000 at Gooding & Co) and was Ferrari's official show car at the Turin Motor Show in April 1953. Turin was the most important motor show in Italy, and one of the most important in the world, hence the gravitas of this car.
The real beauty of this car though, is that it was owned, restored and loved by Wayne Obry of Motion Products, the famed Ferrari restorer. As such, if it wasn't perfect to begin with, it was made that way, and the accolades given the car are too numerous to list. Needless to say, it has multiple class wins and platinum awards, including Best in Show at Cavallino Classic, Best in Class at the International Ferrari Concours Monterey, Best in Class and is one of the very few cars on Planet Earth to have achieved a perfect 100-point score at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
$1,100,000 | 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Working Cutaway
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
$1,155,000 | 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
$1,155,000 | 1995 Ferrari F50
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
$1,160,000 | 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
$1,187,500 | 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe by Ghia
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
This 212 Inter Coupe with one-off coachwork by Ghia was the Ferrari factory show car at the 1952 Salon de l'Automobile in Paris. It was spotted at the show by Juan Perón, President of Argentina and automotive enthusiast.
Perón had an immense collection of luxurious automobiles, and was the key financier of the country's most famous car racers, Juan Manual Fangio and José Froilán Gonzále, but growing public scrutiny meant he had to hide some of his more excessive passions, particularly where import duties were involved.
The story of this beautiful car is much more than the Perón episode, but if you like a good story, the auction description has it. The history includes being awarded at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and Cavallino Classic.
No Sale | 1965 Shelby GT350 R
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
This 1965 Shelby GT350 R has a spectacular past, having been one of the six cars in the famous Cobra caravan, a six-month promotional event during the Shelby American heyday. It then had a wonderful period racing history in South America, being raced well into the 1970s. The car was expected to sell for between $1 and $1.2 million, but attracted a high bid of $850,000 and was passed in.
$1,210,000 | A pair of 1969 Chevrolet ZL1 Camaros
Mecum, Kissimmee, January 13 | Auction Link
This lot at Mecum's Kissimmee auction (held a week before Scottsdale) was extra special because two of the original 69 1969 Chevrolet ZL1 Camaros were being sold in one lot, and the reserve price of $1.1 million was publicly disclosed.
The lot was sold into the room at the reserve price, meaning that the 10 percent buyers premium was applied to get a total price of $1.21 million, or $605,000 each. That compares favorably with the sale of another ZL1 that sold at Barrett-Jackson during Scottsdale 2018 for $770,000.
$1,270,000 | 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Speciale by Boano
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
This car is quite something to behold, and the stunning and futuristic presentation belies its year of manufacture thanks to the elegant lines penned by Mario Boano as a last minute replacement for another one-off design, a a 6C 3000 coupe that was destined for Argentinean President Juan Perón, a former racing driver and avid automobile collector.
Boano had hoped to showcase the Peron car at the Torino Motor Show in 1955, and when the other car was shipped directly to Argentina, this car was created in short order, becoming testimony to the remarkable talents of Boano.
From the Century of Sports Cars Collection auctioned by RM-Sotheby's in Scottsdale, this 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Speciale was presented for sale with a fresh Best in Class victory at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance to its credit.
$1,292,500 | 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
$1,325,000 | 2017 Ferrari F12tdf
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
Ferrari does not re-use its significant names lightly. Despite a reputation beyond anything on four wheels, the GTO moniker that immediately recalls the sublime Ferrari 250 GTO, it has only reprised it twice, in the Ferrari 288 GTO (from 1984-87) andthe Ferrari 599 GTO (2011).
Hence when it named the successor to the lauded 599 GTO as the Ferrari F12tdf, everyone took notice. The Tour de France automobile race held on public roads between 1899 and 1986 (and similar in nature to the famous bicycle race), was regularly won by the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta and Ferrari produced a "Tour de France" model after it won the event four times in a row.
Only 799 of the lightweight, track-focused version of the F12 Berlinetta were built in 2016 and 2017, and the 769 hp supercars are now beginning to come to auction. Mecum sold a 2016 F12tdf in Kissimmee on January 13, 2018 for $1,320,000, passed a 2017 model in at the same auction with a high bid of $1,100,000 and RM-Sotheby's sold a 2016 F12tdf for $1,105,000 at its New York Icons sale in December.
$1,343,829 | 1993 Ferrari F40
Coys International, January 13 | Auction Link (see below)
Sold for £979,000 at Coy's Official auction at Autosport International, held at NEC in Birmingham (UK) on January 13, this matching-numbers 1993 Ferrari F40 competition car was delivered to Kroymans BV in Holland and was raced in period by Patrick Huisman and David Hart across Europe.
The car was much sought after and "attracted bidders from all four corners of the world" according to Coy's. No auction page link as yet, but the full catalog for the sale is online and this car has a three-page write-up (see Page 56).
$1,400,000 | 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Carbon 65 Edition
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
Another successful new car charity auction, the Carbon 65 Edition has been created as a limited (650 only) celebration of 65 years of the Corvette, and Chevrolet donated this special 6.2-liter supercharged V8 to the George W. Bush Presidential Center's Military Service Initiative. Former President Bush joined Chevrolet on the block for the sale and $1.4 million was raised.
$1,407,500 | 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
$1,430,000 | 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
Four Porsche 918 Spyders went to auction at Scottsdale for two sales and two DNFs. This was the highest priced of the cars that sold, with the Bonham's 918 Spyder that fetched $1,292,500 listed elsewhere in this article. Of the two that didn't sell, the Gooding & Co Porsche 918 Spyder had just 100 miles on the odometer, attracting a high bid of $1,550,000 but fell well short of the buyer's expectations as the asking price is now $1,850,000. Worldwide's 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder was expected to sell for between $1,600,000 and $1,900,000 and received a high bid of $1,350,000.
The marketplace for 918 Spyders has dropped in recent times as the car is no longer the latest and most advanced on the market, and the limited edition status has accordingly been eroded by time. The most valuable Porsche 918 Spyders in the marketplace now feature the costly ($79,000 extra on the $850,000 list price when new) and hence rare "Weissach package," which significantly reduces weight and lowers the car's Nurburgring lap time by eight seconds. RM-Sothebys sold a 2015 Porsche 918 'Weissach' Spyder for $1,732,000 at its New York Icons sale in December, 2017.
$1,457,500 | 1930 Bentley Speed Six 'Le Mans Replica' Tourer
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
$1,512,500 | 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is one of those rare highly collectible cars that isn't as rare as it should be. In total, 3,258 were built, consisting of 1,400Coupés and 1,858Roadsters. Any major auction cluster or major retromobile-type show usually sees half a dozen available, and the asking price rarely has less than seven figures.
There were seven 300 SL variants available in Scottsdale, with another having gone to auction at Mecum's Kissimmee auction in Florida on January 12. The Mecum 300 SL was a 1958 Roadster and was passed in with a high bid of $950,000.
Of the seven on sale in Arizona, RM-Sotheby's sold a 1957 Roadster for $1,083,000, Gooding & Company sold a 1957 Roadster for $1,083,500, a 1954 Gullwing for $1,155,000, a 1956 Gullwing for $1,320,000 and a 1960 Gullwing for $1,100,000.
The only unsold Gooding 300 SL was a 1963 Roadster with a cavernous zone of potential agreement: the highest bid was $1.35 million but the car in question has an asking price of $1.6 million.
The most expensive SL sold so far this year was the one above, a 1957 roadster that fetched $1,512,500 at Bonhams, making it $429,500 dearer than the 1957 roadster built in the same year and sold by RM-Sotheby's.
What makes such a difference? This was the first 300SL Roadster imported into the United States, it has a meticulously documented history, has matching numbers, has just been the recipient of a fastidious 100-point restoration by a respected marque specialist, and has just spent half a century in the care of one dedicated enthusiast. Choosing a car with a well-documented provenance is equally as important as the car itself.
$1,512,500 | 1991 Ferrari F40
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
For a 27-year-old, this car is as close to perfection as seems possible without sealing it in a vacuum at the factory. In that 27 years, this F40 has traveled less than 2,500 miles from new, is in absolutely original condition throughout, and it comes with the complete and unused set of original fitted Ferrari luggage still in the original cotton bags.
F40 Ferraris do sell for more than this, but they need to be flawless, a recent example being an almost identical car with 2802 miles that was sold for $1,540,000 as part of the Ferrari Performance Collection by RM-Sotheby's in Monterey last year.
$1,682,500 | 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
The replacement for the Ferrari 250 GT coupe, the gorgeous 250 GT/L, or Lusso, was the last of the 250 series road cars, the most luxurious and the most refined. This car is the 275th of the 350 examples built, underwent a 3-year cosmetic restoration which was completed in June 2013, and was awarded Best in Class at the inaugural Arizona Concours d'Elegance in 2014.
$1,732,500 | 2015 McLaren P1 Coupe
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
Very few examples of the McLaren P1, designed to be the best driver's car in the world, have ever surfaced at auction, mainly because only 375 were produced, and getting on the list involved making a commitment not to sell it within a given time frame.
By our reckoning, this is the first McLaren P1 to sell for less than $2 million, with a high watermark of $2,392,500 set by Gooding & Company at Amelia Island in 2017. A McLaren P1 GTR failed to sell in 2016 at Villa Erba, but that's a different car altogether.
$1,760,000 | 1963 Iso Grifo SI Coupe
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
This prototype of the A3/L Iso Grifo was a collaboration between Giotto Bizzarrini and Giorgetto Giugiaro, and was exhibited at the 1963 Torino Motor Show and 1964 New York Auto Show. It was restored in the late 1980s by a Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance judge and has been awarded at Pebble Beach, Concorso Italiano, and the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance.
$1,792,500 | 1948 Tucker 48
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
Just as the Shelby cars owned by Carroll Shelby elsewhere on this list fetched a premium for their unique provenance, this 1948 Tucker 48 was personally owned by Preston Tucker, and it exceeded its estimate by $300,000.
Apart from being the personal car of the famous entrepreneur, the car was also the star of the 1948 promotional film Tucker: The Man and the Car, and was present at several momentous occasions in the company's brief history, coming with exhaustive documentation.
Of the 51 Tucker 48s built (50 production and 1 prototype), 47 still exist, so this car is quite special and despite selling above estimate, it is still more than a million dollars cheaper than the most expensive Tucker 48 ever sold. That honor went to the ex-Ron Pratte Tucker 48 which sold for $2,915,000 at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale auction in 2012.
$2,090,000 | 2014 Pagani Huayra Coupe
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
This US-spec Pagani Huayra is the 87th of the 100 examples produced worldwide, having been specially ordered with a Carbonio Rosso, fully exposed carbon fiber body. The car has traveled less than 1,000 miles from new and the car was sold complete with the special-order fitted luggage. Be sure to check out the imagery on the Gooding & Co Auction Link to see how you go traveling in a Huayra.
$2,500,000 | 2017 Ford GT
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
In January 2015, we reported on the sale of the Ron Pratte Collection for $40.4 million, one of the most expensive automotive collections ever sold. Ron Pratte is still involved in the automotive trade though, and he donated this 2017 Ford GT to be sold with all proceeds going to the Evernham Family-Racing for a Reason Foundation and ultimately to the benefit of the Autism Society of North Carolina's Ignite Program.
The Ford GT sold for $2.5 million, becoming the most expensive of the 1,721 cars sold by Barrett-Jackson during a week of auctions, and and the fourth most valuable new car ever sold for charity.
$2,530,000 | 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
One of just 99 330 GTS units built, the Spider version of the 330 GTC rarely sells without at least a 2 in front of the sale price. This black 1967 GTS fetched $2,530,000 against an estimate of $2,000,000 to $2,400,000 at Gooding & Co, though a red 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS at RM-Sotheby's could only attract a high bid of $1,650,000. The car had been estimated at $1,800,000 to $2,200,000.
$2,640,000 | 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 debuted at 1968 Salon de l'Automobile in Paris, and was initially dubbed the "Daytona" by the media following Ferrari's 1-2-3 whitewash of the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona. When production commenced, the 365 GTB/4 immediately became the world's fastest road going car with a run of 174 mph.
The convertible Daytona arrived at the 1969 Salon de l'Automobile with deliveries commencing in 1971. In all, 1,400 Berlinetta Coupes were built, but the Spider is a much more elusive beast, with a total production of just 123 units. This car is the 72nd example of the 123 and sold with a detailed history.
$2,947,500 | 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra 'Semi-Competition'
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
The intention was to create 100 of these cars so they could be homologated with the FIA for racing, but when the inspectors called, only 51 had been completed, so approval was withheld, dummies were spat, and when they'd assembled those already in the pipeline, Carroll Shelby was left with 53 very different Cobras to the 289 ci cars he had produced until that time. They were five inches wider, with huge wheel arches, bigger tires, and 427 ci engines producing 500 hp.
In the end, 16 were sold to private teams, two retained as prototypes, and one sent to Ford Engineering. It is believed that a total of 31 of the intended competition models were detuned and fitted with windscreens for street use. This car, CSX 3040, is one of that batch of brutal "street" Cobras that were faster than many purpose-built racing cars of the period.
$3,410,000 | 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari
Mecum, Kissimmee, January 12 | Auction Link
In the fickle world of limited edition supercars, this isn't a bad result. When you take out the highest price yet paid for a LaFerrari Coupe ($7 million fetched at a charity auction in December, 2016), and the $5.17 million paid for the one-of-three, all-black, Cavallo Infernale LaFerrari, this price is in the ballpark of all other prices paid to date for Ferrari's delectable state-of-the-art supercar.
This car sold with just 317 miles on the odometer, indicating that although the original buyer is a bonafide enthusiast (you simply can't get on the list if you aren't), the lure of a healthy profit prevented him/her from really driving it. That's kinda sad in our opinion, because if there was ever a car that deserves to be driven ...
$4,070,000 | 1931 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
A remarkable car in every respect, this was the very first Type 55, delivered with Jean Bugatti Roadster Coachwork to Duc Louis VI Jean Marie de la Trémoille and from that point forth, it led an outstanding life, winning the 1947 Rallye des Alpes with Gaston Descollas behind the wheel and eventually spending 45 years in the Bugatti Collection of Dr. Peter and Susan Williamson.
Only 38 Bugatti Type 55s were built and just 14 wore Jean Bugatti's Roadster coachwork on the Grand Prix chassis. Between 2009 and 2012, Sargent Metalworks performed a complete concours quality restoration, after which this car was shown at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the 2014American Bugatti Club Adirondack Rally at Lake Placid, the 2016International Bugatti Rally at, Montreux, (Switzerland) and the 2017International Bugatti Meeting in Sardegna, Italy.
$4,455,000 | 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
The Ferrari 500 Mondial was developed from the dominant Formula One car of the day (actually it was an F2 car but it was favored by the F1 regs at the time), Ferrari's tipo 500 monoposto race car.
The same 170 hp 1,984cc DOHC 4-cylinder engine driven by Alberto Ascari in 1952 and 1953 is at the heart of this sports car and it took him to seven consecutive race wins, a record not broken until Sebastian Vettel in 2013 and two world titles. There were only 14 Pinin Farina-Bodied Mondial Spiders built and this car is one of them.
$5,170,000 | 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
It is small and has just a 1,498 cc engine but the Porsche 550 was a giant killer and this car in particular was one of the works cars which forged its stellar reputation and built the Porsche name.
The 550 Spyder was Porsche's first genuine racing car design with Hans Herrmann taking first in class and sixth overall in the 550's first race – the 1954 Mille Miglia. Herrmann was also third overall in that year's Carrera PanAmericana. There were 75 cars with bigger engines in that race, and Herrmann beat 73 of them ..." A great story on the auction page.
No Sale | Hitler's 1939 Mercedes-Benz 770K Grosser Offener Tourenwagen
Worldwide Auctioneers, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
This year, the expected highlight of the Arizona sales was the 1939 Mercedes-Benz 770K Grosser Offener Tourenwagen used as the main parade car of Adolf Hitler from October, 1939, until May, 1941. It attracted a bid of $7 million but that wasn't enough to buy the car.
Not surprisingly, controversy surrounds any memorabilia from Hitler and the Third Reich, with many items claimed to have been owned or used by Hitler having subsequently proven to be false.
One of the best known "Hitler cars," an almost identical car to this one, became the most valuable car ever sold at auction in January, 1973 at an auction in Scottsdale Arizona when it sold for a world record price of US$153,000.
The world record price for a car at auction today stands at $38.1 million, set by a Ferrari 250 GTO in August, 2014. Full story
$8,085,000 | 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Battista Pininfarina's personal 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale became the most expensive car of the week when it sold for $8,085,000, understandably setting a record for a steel-bodied 275 GTB because when a company builds a car for its boss, and the boss has the most recognizable nickname in history, well, it gets done right.
For those unaware, Battista Farina was nicknamed "Pinin" and the name became synonymous with his design work, so he officially changed his name to Battista Pininfarina in 1961. This 1965 car was shown at the Frankfurt, Paris, Turin, and Brussels Motor Shows and has been part of a major private collection for the last quarter century, and hence unseen.
No Sale | 1954 and 1956 Jaguar D-Types
RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January, 2018 | Auction Link
The 1954 Jaguar Works D-Type at RM-Sotheby's received a high bid of $9.8 million, and the 1956 customer D-Type at Gooding & Company had a high bid of $8.85 million, but neither saw the hammer fall and two of the expected stars of the Scottsdale auction week failed to change hands.
The factory D-Type was potentially the most expensive car of the week, and received the highest bid of the week at $9.8 million, but fell $2.2 million short of the reserve price. Its provenance is spectacular, being the principal team car driven by Moss and Walker at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans and having been raced by six Le Mans winning drivers. It came complete with all the documentation but failed to meet reserve.
The customer D-Type at Gooding is a very pretty car, but fell $2.15 million short of its lower estimate. The car is still available by negotiation.